Best Hiking Trails Near Ottawa

Ottawa has over 200 km of hiking trails in Gatineau Park alone, plus conservation areas, Greenbelt trails, and a 387-km long-distance trail ending at Parliament Hill. Most trailhead parking is free.

This guide covers the best hikes in the region, from family-friendly boardwalks to challenging escarpment climbs.

Gatineau Park

Gatineau Park is the hiking hub of the Ottawa-Gatineau region — a 361-square-kilometre conservation park just 15 minutes from downtown, with over 200 km of maintained trails.

Easy Trails

Sugarbush Trail — 1.9 km loop, ~30 minutes. A gentle forest walk starting from the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Chelsea. Good for families and a quick introduction to the park.

Moderate Trails

Pink Lake Trail — 2.3 km loop, ~1 hour. The park's most popular trail — a boardwalk path with stairs leading to a lookout over Pink Lake, one of the few meromictic lakes in the world. The bottom layers of water haven't mixed with the surface in roughly 10,000 years. The lake is green, not pink — it's named after the Pink family who settled here in 1826. No dogs allowed.

Waterfall & Lauriault Trail — 4.5 km loop, ~1 hour 15 minutes. Features Bridal Veil Falls, best seen in spring when snowmelt creates a rushing cascade. Dogs on leash.

Carbide Willson Ruins — 3.25 km return, ~1 hour. Walk along Meech Lake to the atmospheric ruins of Thomas Willson's early 1900s fertilizer plant, with a dam and cascading falls. Open mid-May to mid-November. Dogs allowed.

Challenging Trails

King Mountain Trail — 1.8 km loop, ~1 hour. Short but steep — climbs to 300 metres above the Ottawa Valley on the Eardley Escarpment. Ten lookout points with sweeping views of downtown Ottawa, the river, and the valley. One of the best viewpoints in the region. No dogs.

Luskville Falls Trail — 4.2 km loop, ~2.5 hours. A 290-metre climb up the Eardley Escarpment to a fire tower with panoramic valley views. The waterfall at the start is most impressive in May. No dogs.

Skyline Trail — 5.3 km loop, ~2 hours. Multiple lookouts along the escarpment with 100 metres of elevation gain. Dogs allowed.

Wolf Trail — 10.1 km loop, ~3 hours. A serious hike with 220 metres of climbing to the Tawadina Lookout, with views across the Ottawa Valley. Dogs on leash.

Lusk Cave Trail — 8.5 km loop, ~4.5 hours. The longest and most remote trail, ending at a marble cave with an underground stream. Bring water shoes and a headlamp for wading through the cave. Open mid-May to late October. Dogs on leash.

Greenbelt Trails

Mer Bleue Bog

The Mer Bleue Bog boardwalk is a 1.2 km trail that takes you into the heart of a boreal bog ecosystem — a landscape normally found hundreds of kilometres farther north. Sphagnum moss, carnivorous plants, black spruce, and tamarack surround the boardwalk.

• Difficulty: Easy — flat boardwalk, suitable for families
• Access: Parking Lot P22 at the end of Ridge Road (free, 20 min from downtown)
• Best seasons: Spring for orchids, fall for the bog turning deep red
• Note: Dogs not allowed on the boardwalk

The broader Mer Bleue area has over 22 km of additional trails through forest and along the bog's edges.

Stony Swamp

Stony Swamp is a Greenbelt conservation area in western Ottawa with over 40 km of trails — the most of any Greenbelt section. Several short boardwalk trails wind through wetlands, beaver ponds, and forests.

• Jack Pine Trail — 3.1 km, boardwalk, from P9
• Old Quarry Trail — 3.1 km, boardwalk, from P5
• Beaver Trail — 1.2 km, boardwalk, from P8

The area has over 700 plant species — the highest biodiversity in the National Capital Region. Free parking year-round.

Green's Creek

A lesser-known Greenbelt area in east Ottawa with 5.5 km of trails through steep-sided ravines and plateaus formed by ancient Champlain Sea deposits. Natural lookouts over the Green's Creek valley. Free parking at P24 and P25.

Other Trails

South March Highlands

A 450-hectare conservation forest in Kanata with ~15 km of trails through Canadian Shield outcrops, mature sugar maple forest, and small ponds. Shared by hikers, mountain bikers, and dog walkers. Rugged terrain — expect rocky, rooty trails.

• Access: Junction of Klondike Road and Second Line Road, Kanata
• Best trails: Rockhopper Loop (3.6 km, easy), PWT Loop (7.7 km, moderate)

Rideau Trail

The Rideau Trail is a 387 km long-distance hiking trail connecting Kingston to Ottawa, ending at the Ottawa Locks at Parliament Hill. The Ottawa section covers 108 km through the Greenbelt and along the Rideau Canal corridor. Maintained by the volunteer-run Rideau Trail Association since 1971.

Dominion Arboretum

The Dominion Arboretum isn't a traditional hiking trail, but its 26 hectares of paths through 1,700+ species of trees and shrubs make it one of the best nature walks in the city. Especially beautiful in late April/early May (magnolias, cherry blossoms) and October (autumn colours). Free, dawn to dusk.

Seasonal Guide

Practical Tips

• Parking: Hiking trailhead parking in Gatineau Park is free year-round. Greenbelt parking is also free
• Trail maps: Download free maps via the Avenza Maps app (works offline with GPS). Also available as PDFs on the NCC website
• Dogs: Not allowed at Pink Lake, King Mountain, Luskville Falls, or Mer Bleue boardwalk. Allowed on leash on most other trails from April 15 to November 30
• Gear: Sturdy footwear with ankle support for escarpment trails. Waterproof shoes recommended in spring
• Water: Bring your own — there's no potable water at most trailheads
• Cell service: Limited or nonexistent on most Gatineau Park trails. Download offline maps before heading out